There are a number of popular songs that reference the color green in their titles. Green is often used in song titles to evoke feelings of nature, growth, renewal, and the environment. Songs with “green” in the title may deal with these themes lyrically as well.
Songs Referencing Nature
Many songs with “green” in the title relate to nature in some way. Using the word “green” evokes imagery of lush grass, trees, and plants. Songs in this category may deal with appreciating nature’s beauty, longing for the countryside, or feeling a connection to the natural world.
Here are some examples of popular songs with “green” in the title that relate to nature:
- “Green, Green Grass of Home” by Tom Jones (1967)
- “Green Fields” by The Brothers Four (1960)
- “Green Garden” by Laura Nyro (1967)
- “Green Grass and High Tides” by The Outlaws (1975)
- “Green Green Rocky Road” by The Dave Matthews Band (1996)
Many folk and country songs in particular use “green” in titles as a way to evoke the countryside and pastoral themes. The word calls to mind the countryside, farms, meadows, and fields.
Songs About Growth and Renewal
“Green” can also symbolize growth, renewal, and new beginnings. Songs in this category may deal with starting over, second chances, or reaching one’s potential. The color green represents growth in nature, so songwriters use it to indicate personal growth as well.
Here are some examples of popular songs with “green” in the title relating to growth and renewal:
- “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Vince Gill (1984)
- “Greener Pastures” by Eric Clapton (1975)
- “Green Light” by Lorde (2017)
- “Green Grass and High Tides” by The Outlaws (1975)
- “Green, Green Rocky Road” by The Dave Matthews Band (1996)
These songs see “green” as a symbol of leaving hard times behind and entering a new, fruitful phase of life. The green imagery represents starting over with a fresh perspective.
Environmental Songs
With the rise of the environmental movement in the 1960s and 70s, many songs emerged referencing the color green as a symbol of environmentalism and nature conservation.
Here are some examples of popular environmental songs with “green” in the title:
- “Green Tambourine” by The Lemon Pipers (1968)
- “Going Green” by Neil Young (1975)
- “Green-Eyed Lady” by Sugarloaf (1970)
- “Green River” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
- “Greenfields” by The Brothers Four (1960)
The use of “green” in these titles is meant to evoke positive natural imagery and a message of environmentalism. At the time many of these songs emerged, issues like pollution, deforestation, and nuclear energy created concern for the environment.
Lyrical Themes
In addition to contributing to the title, lyrical content in songs with “green” often deal with nature, growth, and the environment. Here are some examples of lyrical excerpts from popular green songs:
- From “Green, Green Grass of Home” by Tom Jones: “Then I awake and look around me at the four gray walls that surround me / And I realize yes I was only dreaming / For there’s a guard and there’s a sad old padre / Arm and arm we’ll walk at daybreak / Again I’ll touch the green, green grass of home”
- From “Green Light” by Lorde: “She thinks you love the beach, you’re such a damn liar / Those great whites, they have big teeth / Hope they bite you / Thought you said that you would always be in love / But you’re not in love no more”
- From “Green River” by Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Take me back down where cool water flow, yeah / Let me remember things I love / Stoppin’ at the log where catfish bite / Walkin’ along the river road at night / Barefoot girls dancin’ in the moonlight”
As these examples show, lyrics tends to match the themes evoked by having “green” in the song title – appreciating nature, longing for home, new beginnings, and environmentalism can all be found in the lyrics of green songs.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a wide variety of songs with “green” in the title across genres and eras. This word choice is often used to evoke nature, growth, renewal, and the environment. Songs about appreciating the countryside, starting over, or conservation efforts tend to use “green” in their titles as a symbolic shorthand. The lyrics frequently amplify these themes by dealing with nature, personal growth, or environmentalism directly. So next time you come across a song with “green” in the title, look a little closer – chances are it contains an underlying message about our connections to the natural world and one another.
